Popcorn machine



Oct. 6, 1953 A. D. ALTI-:MILLER POPCORN MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 15, 1948 Oct 6, 1953 A. D. ALTEMILLER 2,654,823

POPCORN MACHINE Filed Sept. 15, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0,0 l I g8 90 60 l l I /AZ l I /50 Patented Oct. 6, 1953 POPCORN MACHINE Arthur D. Altemiller, Ailton, Mo.,

assigner to Hercules Steel Products Corporation, Galion, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application September 15, 1948, Serial No. 49,429

(Cl. 21S- 19) 2 Claims. 1

The present invention relates generally to popcorn machines, although it will become evident that a number of its features are valuable in other apparatus, particularly cooking apparatus.

In the known types of pepper constructions, the kettle is secured to the heating element so that it can be removed from the assemly only after a tedious and time-consuming operation, with the not infrequent result that the kettle is not removed and cleaned as often as it should be. Also, in the known constructions, the heater element is connected to a main circuit by flexible wires, and a constant bending of these wires, caused by the opening and closing of the popcorn assembly each time popcorn is removed and raw corn and oil added, causes the insulation on the wires to deteriorate and the wires themselves to break due to fatigue failure.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a novel pepper construction in which the pepper kettle can be easily and `quie-kly removed for cleaning.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pepper construction in which the heating element is separate from the kettle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pepper construction in which the electrical circuit to the heater element is made through pressure contacts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pepper assembly which and quickly disassembled for repair ment of the heater element.

More broadly, objects of the invention include the provision of a heating device and a container, both movable relatively to a base, with the container separable from the heating device, and with separable contacts between the movable heating device and container that are automatically closed together when the movable parts are brought into operating relationship to the base.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown, in which:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevational view of the upper portion of a popcorn machine showing a motor housing assembly, and pepper assembly constructed in accordance with the teachings of the p-resent invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the motor housing assembly and the pepper assembly in closed position with portions of the motor housing and pepper housing cut away te show the internal construction;

Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 2, but with the pepper in an open position;

can be easily and replace- Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the popper assembly with the hinge pin removed;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged diametrical sectional view of the pepper assembly;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6 6 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged side elevational view of the pepper frame assembly;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged exploded elevational View of the pepper assembly, the pepper housing being shown in cross section and the hinge pin and one of the asbestos strips being removed from the frame assembly;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the removable hinge pin;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary top plan view of the top ring and U-shaped bracket of the pepper frame assembly;

Fig. 1l is an enlarged top plan view of the female member of the electrical contacter; and

Fig. 12 is a side elevational View taken on the line i2-l2 in Fig. ll.

In the description to follow, the inventions are described in connection with a pepper, to which they have especial applicability. However, it is understood that in certain cases the features are to be construed for broader application, as will be evident.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numerals, I5 indicates generally the upper portion of a popcorn machine which includes a motor housing assembly l 6 and a pepper assembly I8 constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

The motor housing assembly I6 includes a motor housing 20, having side walls 22 and a bottom wall 24, within which housing is mounted a motor 26 which, by means of a worm 3!) and Worm gear 32, drives an agitator 28 (Fig. 3) that depends below the housing assembly l 6. An opening 34 is provided through the bottom wall 24 adjacent the edge thereof, for a purpose to appear. Adjacent the opening, and on the bottem wall 24, an angle bracket 35 is permanently attached. It has a cylindrical bearing formed in its lower end to receive a hinge pin, which will be described later. Diametrically opposite the bracket 35 on the lower part of the housing 20, a. channel-shaped latch member 36 is pivotally mounted in the manner shown in Fig. 2. The latch member 3E has notches 31 formed in the lower end thereof for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

The female member 40 of a bayonet type electrical contacter is mounted by means of machine screws 41 on the inside of the bottom wall 24 in line with the opening 34. The female member 40, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, includes an insulator body 42 having chambers 44 formed therein. Longitudinal slots 46 are formed in the fb c bottoms of the chambers 44 and extend into the body adjacent one end of the chambers. Narrowed U-shaped blade-receiving contact elements 48 are disposed within the chambers M and are held in position by threaded rods 50 and nuts and 52 mounted on opposite ends thereof. Nuts 54 are mounted on the ends of the rods 50 adjacent the nuts 52 for fastening insulated wires 56 thereto which lead to the main circuit (not shown).

The popper assembly I8 (Fig. 8) includes a kettle 58 and a frame assembly mounted within a popper housing 62.

The kettle 50 (Fig. 5) has a cup-shaped body portion 64 with a substantially vertical wall 63 and a dat bottom 68. An annular iiange 10 is formed integral with the top edge of the wall 36 and extends outwardly and downwardly therefrom. The flange 10 has an elongated notch 12 formed in its outer edge, and diametrically opposite therefrom there is an opening 14 (Fig. 4). A rod 16, which is threaded on the lower end, extends downwardly normal to the kettle bottom 60 and is secured thereto as by welding.

The frame assembly 50 (Figs. '1, 8 and 10) includes a top ring 10 which has an outwardly extending flange portion formed integrally with the upper edge thereof. A U-shaped bracket 8| depends from the ring 10, to which the upper ends of its legs are attached by spot welding. It has an opening 02 centrally of its bottom portion. Y The opening 02 is anked by a pair of slots 33 in the bottom of the cross member. The upper ends of the legs of the bracket 0| extend outwardly from the ring 18 providing tabs 56 and 86. The outer ends of the tabs 04 an-d B are rolled and notched to form cylindrical bearings 88 and 90, respectively, and an opening 9i is contained within the tab 8S. As will be de scribed, the bearings 90 cooperate with the bearing loop on the bracket for supporting the popper assembly i6 on the motor housing 2). A handle member 02 (Fig. 4), with a pin Se formed normal thereto near one end, is pivotally mounted in the bearing t8 for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

The male member 96 of a bayonet type electrical contacter is secured to the tab 36, as shown in Fig. 6. The member 96 has a split body S5, the upper portion of which is disposed above the tab 86 and the bottom portion of which disposed below it, the two being held together by a bolt |00 which passes through the opening 9| and is engaged by a nut |02. A pair of contact blades |06 extend upwardly from the top of the body 08, and a pair of threaded studs |00 (Fig. 7) depend from the bottom thereof, the studs |06 being connected to the blades |05 within the body 00. The upper ends of a pair of insulated wires ||0 are disposed around the studs |06 and secured thereto by nuts ||2.

A disc H4, with an opening H6 in the center thereof and diametrically opposed slots H6 on either side of said opening, is disposed within the U-shaped bracket 8| so as to rest upon the top of the cross member, the opening HS and slots ||8 coinciding with the opening 82 and slots 83, respectively, in the cross member. A disc |20 of insulating material, such as asbestos ber, is disposed on top of the disc lill, the former having an opening |22 and slots |22 formed therein which coincide with the holes and slots in the disc H4 and bracket 8|.

A heater assembly is mounted within the frame 60 to be supported upon the discs |20 and H4,

and hence by the U-shaped bracket 8|. The heater assembly includes a supporting ring or shallow cylinder |26 with a diametrical member |20 (Fig. 5) and a series of similar radial members (not shown) secured to the inner surface thereof. A resistive heater element |30 (Fig. 5) is supported by the diametrical member |28 and the radial members, and the ends thereof are secured to insulated threaded studs |32 (Figs. '7 and 8) which extend through the wall of the ring |26. The lower ends of the insulated wires ||0 are secured to the outer ends of the studs |32 by nuts |34.

An externally threaded tube |36 is secured by welding to the diametrical member |20 at the center thereof; and it extends downwardly through the openings |22, ||6 and 82.

Two threaded studs |38 (Figs. 5 and 8) are secured to the diametrical member |20 approximately midway between the tube |36 and the ring |20 and extend downwardly through the slots |24, H8 and 03 (Fig. 5). Nuts |50 are disposed on the ends of the studs |36 so as to hold together the U-shaped bracket 8|, the disc H5, the disc |20 and the heater element supporting ring |26.

The disc |20 and the anged ring 18 constitute spaced annular bottom and top supports for insulating material that provides side walls for the frame and a lining for the sides of the pepper housing. This insulating material is here shown as a pair of sheet portions |4| of asbestos fibers, disposed around the frame between the disc |20 and the anged ring 18, each sheet or strip |4| extending approximately 180 around the periphery of the frame 60.

The popper housing 62 (Fig. 8) is cup-shaped and has a vertical wall |42 and a dat bottom |43. The wall |42 has diametrically opposed elongated notches |44 in the upper edge thereof, to accommodate the tabs BQ and ES, and the bottom |53 has an opening |40 in the center.

It is desirable to have the housing 62 large enough to provide an air Space around the outside of the frame assembly 60, as appears in Fig. 5.

A jam nut |41 is disposed on the tube |36 adjacent the bottom |42 of the popper housing 62, and a wing nut |48 is disposed on the lower end of the rod 16.

A removable hinge pin |50, as shown in Fig. 9, is disposed in the bearing 'of the tab 80 and the bearing in the bracket 38 so as to pivotally secure the popper assembly I8 to the motor housing assembly I6.

To operate the pepper assembly in order to remove the popcorn or to add raw corn and oil, the handle member 92 is rotated in a clockwise direction, causing the pin 04 to engage the lower end of the latch member 36 and to pivot it outwardly, thereby disengaging the notches 31 from the bearings 86 and permitting the popper assembly i8 to pivot downwardly about the hinge pin |50.

As the pepper assembly |8 pivots downwardly, the contact blades le slide from between the jaws of the blade receiving elements i8 and pass downwardly through the slots 50, thereby breaking the circuit to the heater element |30. Because of the light pressure between the sliding parts of the contactor, the wear is negligible and can be easily compensated for, if necessary, by pressing the jaws of the blade receiving elements l(lil closer together` The pepper is closed by grasping the handle member 92 and pivoting the pepper assembly I8 upwardly about the hinge pin |50 so as te cause the bearings 63 te force the bottom ef the latch member 36 away from the housing 20, thereby permitting the bearings 88 to engage the notches 3"! and secure the pepper in a horizontal position.

As the pepper assembly swings upwardly, the contact blades |94 pass upwardly through the slots 43 and enter into engagement with the blade receiving elements 48, thereby closing the circuit to the heater element |30. By this means, assuming master control switches (not shown) to be closed, the heating element is automatically energized and deenergized in accordance with the position of the food container.

To disassemble the pepper assembly I8 in order to clean the kettle 58 or repair the heater element |33, the pepper assembly I8 is rst swung te the open positions and the hinge pin |50 removed, thereby disengaging the pepper assembly from the motor housing assembly. The wing nut |46 is then removed from the rod 16, thereby freeing the rod 'I6 and permitting the kettle the top of the assembly for washing and cleaning. If desired, the kettle 58 could be removed from the assembly while it remains hinged to the motor housing assembly.

After the wing nut |48 has been removed, the jam nut |47 can be removed from the tube |36, thereby permitting the pepper housing 62 to be removed.

The strips |4| of insulating material can then be removed, thereby completely exposing the heater element |30 and its supporting structure.

The apparatus can be further dismantled by removing the nuts |38 which permit the removal of the heater element and its supporting ring |26, thereby freeing the discs and I4.

Thus, by merely removing the wing nut |48, the pepper kettle can be removed from the assembly, and, by removing a few additional nuts, the entire pepper housing assembly |8 can be dismantled for inspection and repair.

From the description, it will be seen that a heating container, particularly desirable as a food cooker, is movably mounted relatively to a base, that also constitutes a support for the container, and a closure for the same. The heater is movable with the movable container, but without the use of wire er like connections. The food containing element or bowl is separately and easily removed from the heating element, and yet is in close promixity thereto and above the same. In machines such as popcorn poppers, requiring an additional product treating device such as the movable agitator, the heavy moving parts are supported in a xed base, whereas the relatively lighter food container and heater are movably mounted.

In a broader sense, the heating means represents a particular apparatus for acting upon the contents of the container, and while novelty is considered to reside in the present arrangement of the heater, the claims are intended unless otherwise specied, to include other apparatus for treating the contents of the bowl.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings have been given by way of illustration and example only, and that changes and alterations in the present disclosure, which will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the claims which fellow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a popcorn machine, a iixed supporting assembly, and a movable pepper assembly hinged te the supporting assembly, said pepper assembly being adapted selectively to occupy either an operating er a non-operating position relative to said supporting assembly, Said pepper assembly comprising a kettle and electrical means for heating the kettle, said electrical means including one member of a bayonet type electrical contacter, there being a complementary member of the contacter in fixed relation to said supporting assembly, said respective contacter members being positioned for either conducting contact or non-conducting separation in accordance with the selected position of the pepper assembly, said pepper assembly further comprising a frame assembly for receiving said kettle in nested relationship, said kettle having an outwardly extending annular iiange for overlying abutment with said frame assembly, said flange having an opening therein, said one contacter member being mounted on said frame and extending upwardly through said opening for` the aforementioned selective engagement of the contacter members, and a single readily releasable fastening element for retaining the kettle in the frame, the kettle being thereby readily removable from the remainder of the pepper assembly.

2. In a popcorn machine, a xed supporting assembly, and a movable pepper assembly hinged to the supporting assembly, said pepper assembly being adapted selectively to occupy either an operating or a nen-operating position relative te said supporting assembly, said pepper assembly comprising a kettle and electrical means for heating the kettle, said electrical means including one member of a bayonet type electrical contaeter, there being a complementary member of the contacter in fixed relation to said supporting assembly, said respective contacter members being positioned for either conducting contact er non-conducting separation in accordance with the selected position of the pepper assembly, said two contacter members comprising a male member and a female member, said male member including a pair of knife-like contact blades supported in an insulator body and extending in parallel arrangement therefrom, said female member including an insulator body having a pair of rectangular chambers in side-by-side arrangement therein, and a narrowed U-shaped blade-receiving contact element in each of said chambers, said female insulator body further having a slet ceextensive with each chamber for pivotal access of said blade to said blade-receiving element.

ARTHUR D. ALTEMILLER.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 20,570 Bushway Dec. 7, 1937 1,633,391 Beskin June 21, 1927 1,884,637 Feehan Oct. 25, 1932 1,961,812 Burch June 5, 1934 2,027,698 Parks Jan. 14, 1936` 2,119,421 Cross May 31, 1938 2,214,630 Wheeler Sept. 10, 1940 2,232,954 Manley Feb. 25, 1941 2,244,580 Smith June 3, 1941 2,516,503 Bock July 25, 1950 

